With Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast getting closer and closer to the start of production, the cast is continuing to come together. Last week, we heard that Ian McKellen had landed the role of Cogsworth, and yesterday we got word of two more pieces of casting – unfortunately, Patrick Stewart as Lumiere is NOT one of them.
Instead, Variety reports that Ewan McGregor is in talks for the part of the debonair candelabra, with a deal expected to close soon. While we’re a bit disappointed that McKellen and Stewart won’t be able to continue their onscreen bromance, we have to admit that McGregor is a pretty solid choice here.
But the Scottish actor isn’t the only new addition to the Beauty and the Beast cast – Variety also says that Stanley Tucci has closed a deal to play Credenza the grand piano. If you’re scratching your head trying to remember this character from the original animated film, don’t worry – you’re not crazy. Credenza is a new creation for the live-action film, described as a “neurotic maestro.”
The new Beauty and the Beast film boasts a screenplay that includes rewrites from Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), and will feature new music from Tim Rice and Alan Menken, along with updated recordings of the classic numbers from the film’s animated counterpart.
Emma Watson and Dan Stevens star as Belle and the Beast, respectively, while Luke Evans will appear as Gaston and Josh Gad will play his sidekick, LeFou. In addition to the aforementioned McKellen as Cogsworth, Emma Thompson is also onboard as Mrs. Potts. Bill Condon will direct Beauty and the Beast, with a release date currently scheduled for March 17, 2017.
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